Author: staff reporter

by Maximilla Wafula

High Commissioner of India Namgya Khampa , accompanied with Mr Shivendra Singh, Vice President and Deputy High Commissioner of India Mr. Rohit Vadhwana & DPR to UNEP & UN – Habitat adrsses the delegation and other officials during the technology business organised in connection with the visit of NASSCOM delegation .

It is particularly important to note that this forum brings together Government and business with specific interest in the ICT and related sub-sectors.This is because ICT and associated technologies and applications can be key multipliers in accelerating economic growth in developing countries. In this regard, I believe there is substantial convergence of interests and opportunity for mutually beneficial partnerships between India and Kenya in the industry.
As you are aware, 10 major Indian companies are present here to interact and engage with their Kenyan counterparts represented by more than thirty-five companies – with a view to develop new partnerships and tap into investment opportunities.

It is forums like this that have cemented the cordial India-Kenya bilateral relations, transcending into a robust and multi-faceted partnership. Due to this synergy, India remains one of Kenya’s major trade and investment partners. FY 2021-22 saw India-Kenya bilateral trade increase 38.7% increase from US$ 1.99 billion in 2020-21 to US$ 2.76 billion. Both exports from India to Kenya and imports from Kenya into India registered significant growth.

India is among the top investors in Kenya cutting across manufacturing, real estate, pharmaceuticals, telecom, IT & ITES, banking among others. As per available data, over 60 major Indian companies have presence in Kenya – some of them are present with us today.
Dear Friends,
ICT and digital economy are the economic drivers for the country. It is contributing over 13% to India’s GDP, employing over 4.5 million people as of FY21 and exporting a total of US$ 149 billion worth of IT enabled Services. India’s IT industry, creates roughly US$ 200 billion in economic value yearly through IT-BPM, e-commerce, domestic electronics manufacturing, digital payments & communication services and other ICT-related activities. Driven by digital technology, cyber security, AI, robotics and healthcare IT, India’s digital economy is predicted to be worth over US$ 800 billion by 2025, contributing 10% of GDP.

India is already considered the IT hub of the world but it has more potential and talent. To tap into it, Government of India has come up with several initiatives to give impetus to the sector. Digital India for instance aims at transforming India into a digitally enabled society and knowledge economy. Make in India campaign on the other hand seeks to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, protect intellectual property & build best in class manufacturing infrastructure.

IT has helped India to provide Aadhar – Unique identity number – to almost everyone in the country – approximately to 1340 million people. Backed by digital banking, Unified Payment Interface (UPI), country has created a robust digital infrastructure, biggest in the world. We will hear more about this in the detailed presentation of NASSCOM.
On the other hand, an evaluation of Kenya’s ICT sector pre-pandemic status reveals a relatively robust industry with average annual growth rate of 10.8% from 2016-2019. Also referred to as Africa’s ‘Silicon Savannah’, Kenya is a regional leader in internet connectivity, value-added services (most notably mobile money transfer) and mobile banking services. Post the pandemic, accelerated by increased uptake of online services, the sector contributed 4.8% to Kenya’s GDP and about 21,000 direct jobs last year according to the Economic Survey 2022 report. Total output of the sector was US$ 5.32 billion in 2021. The main growth drivers in the sector are fibre-optic subscriptions, 4G mobile network coverage, mobile commerce transactions, undersea bandwidth capacity and mobile money transfers. On this aspect also, we look forward to hearing more from KenInvest and Institute of Economic Affairs who will make their presentations.

I believe our both economies have already proven potential in the IT sector. With educated talent pool, English speaking population, knowledge and base for digital infrastructure, our two countries are best suited to partner in this sector. Joined together, we will be able to provide technology enabled solutions not only to India and Kenya but to whole of Africa and the world.

High Commission of India facilitates B2B meetings, Government to Government level institutional mechanisms, industry bodies interactions such as FICCI and CII (from India) and KNCCI, KAM and Keninvest (from Kenya). NASSCOM delegation visit adds more opportunities for both the countries to work together.
Before I conclude, I take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India, Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy, Government of Kenya, Keninvest, KNCCI, Institute of Economic Affairs for their invaluable support in organising this meeting. Special mention goes to NASSCOM, led by Mr. Shivendra Singh, Vice President, Global Trade Development for making this very important meeting successful.

I hope that everyone present here will take full advantage of today’s discussions to network and form lasting business relationships. I wish you all the very best in this endeavor.
Ends…

By Jeff kizzilah

The convention which is happening along side the Cop27 which is currently on in Egypt, to discuss sustainable Engineering in the era of Climate change.

The convention will be held at the Diani ,Kwale County which schedule to host 7000 delegates physically while 6000 virtual..

“Our mandate is to bring discipline in the engineering sector as well as train more professionals to bring productivity and welfare,who can approve and design their designs, according to Erastus Mwongera Chairman EBK.

The international Convention will highlight men and women contribution within the sector.

He said that engineers registered locally and international are free to apply their designs as well as knowledge without going through examination in Kenya.

The EBK has develop a card which will be used by engineers to introduce themselves authoritatively wherever they work.

“Engineers are also working to be part of international accord known as “Washington Accord “and here we will introduce our academia and the international market and industry,” EBK Chairman said.

by Maximilla Wafula

Jackline Aluoch Amoke , Best student in procurement and Supply Chain of the graduating class of 2022 recognized at the Kenya Institute of Supplies Examination Board (KISEB) . She has been recognized as the best student academic year 2022 at Zetech University.

Today honoured and recognise the combined hard work , effort and resilience , in the spirit of both Kiseb and Zetech University’s core value of team work . Three years she walked into this prestigious University with her suitcase, dreams , aspirations and uncertainties of what would become of her . But today she leaves with not only her degree but also as the best academic year student of officially the graduating class 2022 at Zetech University.

The university has cultivated in us a culture of well – being and Sustainability. We don’t take for granted that we have had the privilege of Inventing out our future in a learning environment that is conducive and cognisant of our physical, social , spiritual, emotional , intellectual , environmental, financial ,cultural and occupational well – being while upholding the sustainability of it’s community.

From countless mental health forums to medical camps , camps hangouts , environmental day’s, field trips , all these made it possible for us to achieve our full potential and helped us build connections with industry experts.

Our faculty have been nothing short of dedicated , committed , selfless and supportive . We are still in awe of how they interacted with us freely and guidance in the diverse areas of our studies . We take pride in pursuing our higher education at a University that is not shy to invest in state – of -the -art facilities that have helped us acquire hand – on skills . The well equipped library that is available on and off campus , spacious and innovation Hub all helped us to unlock and achieve our full potential.

Thanked the parents for believing and supporting our pursuit of higher education. We remained indebted to all that you have done and continue to do for us , to my fellow graduates as we post photos of our certificate on social media platforms and update our LinkedIn profiles to ‘ open to work ‘ I urge you to remain connected to our Alma Mater by joining the Zetech University Alumni Association which we automatically become when we graduate today .

As we go out separate ways to kickstart our careers and move towards new chapters of our lives , let us hold close to the fond memories of our Zetech Experience, which has made us wiser , braver and more knowledgeable.

Through the hardwork and excellent performance recognitions, she is currently working at the Judiciary Milimani law Court .
Ends.

by Maximilla Wafula

The Cricket Kenya interim selection committee has this afternoon, announced the
Senior Men’s National Cricket Team to Kigali, Rwanda for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa A Qualifier.

The tournament is scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda on 15th – 26th November 2022 in a round robin format and is the first step towards the 2024 ICC
Men’s T20 World Cup.

The top two teams from the tournament will join the winner and runner up of the Africa Sub Regional Qualifier B tournament (1st-9thDecember) in the Regional final alongside Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The top two teams from the Regional event will proceed to the World Cup which will be hosted by West Indies and the United States.

As the first step in a robust bid to get the game of its knees, the Selection panel has
appointed a new captain and vice-captain to lead an integrated team of experience and
upcoming talent.

The team has been in camp for the last two weeks at the Nairobi Gymkhana, in
readiness for the task ahead and we are confident that they will put on a good show.
Ends ..

By Fred Maingi
Former KPL side Re-Union put up a gallant show before going down narrowly 1-2 to Nairobi Division two side Mbotela Kamaliza in a pulsating friendly clash staged at the Mbotela Grounds.
The home team who led 2-0 before halftime were rampant in the first half before losing their steam in the second stanza.
Re exploded in the second with constant attacks that ended up in fruitless corners or cleared in the danger zone.
The home team scored in the first through Brian Aden and Onesmus Omwoko for a 2-0 lead.
Coached by former Gor Mahia youth tactician Maurice Onyango, Re-Union led by Dennis “Oliech” Odhiambo, Prince Shindano, Jackton Yongo, and Juma Kevin were a joy to watch but failed to utilise their chances.
Their efforts paid dividends in the 75th min when Silvester Lishama pulled one back for the Ziwani based side.

Mbotela Keeper Odhiambo Okello was a busy man between the posts after blocking efforts by Re captain Edwin Campbell, Amos Nzau,and Bramwel Were from scoring.
Mbotela coach Geoffrey Ojwang praised Re-Union players saying they were good in ball possession and fighting spirit but were let down by poor finishing .
Re coach(Maurice Onyango) said he was impressed by his players performance but insisted he will work out on finishing.
Club secretary General Caleb Ochieng said the team was in great form but pleaded with well wishers and sponsors to come on board and support the club.

by Maximilla Wafula

GROUP CEO AAR Insurance Dr. Patrick Gatonga today addressed the first cohort of bachelor of international relations and diplomacy and Bachelor of Education arts who will be trail blazers have graduated today at zetech university graduation held at Ruiru campus.

Total of 2200 students graduate,1993 with diploma and degrees and a total of 207 in certificates qualifiers. Speaking during the the graduation ceremony chief guest Dr Patrick Gatonga group CEO AAR insurance has reitareted the need to develop strong talent for Kenya by naturing students skills to attract and retain new technology a move that will be made successful through collaborations with various sector players,he has called on the students to remain focused through out their study period and not to stop trying,and always to keep learning and unlearning to archive their dreams.on his part the Vc prof Njenga Munene has congratulated graduands and and made a clarion call to them to go and be the best role models and value to the society,this comes amid the university been acredited as a centre of distance learning a move that will see the university reach out to a large student base through online programs. Present during the graduation ceremony was the the Vc prof Njenga Munene,deputy VC Alice Njuguna,chair of the zetech council and president advisor Hassan Mohamed, Ambassador of Belgium peter malde who addressed the congregation virtually among others.

The university currently offers 21 degree programs and one masters program.The university is one of the fasted growing university in Kenya.
Ends.

by Maximilla Wafula

GROUP CEO AAR Insurance Dr. Patrick Gatonga today addressed the first cohort of bachelor of international relations and diplomacy and Bachelor of Education arts who will be trail blazers have graduated today at zetech university graduation held at Ruiru campus.

Total of 2200 students graduate,1993 with diploma and degrees and a total of 207 in certificates qualifiers. Speaking during the the graduation ceremony chief guest Dr Patrick Gatonga group CEO AAR insurance has reitareted the need to develop strong talent for Kenya by naturing students skills to attract and retain new technology a move that will be made successful through collaborations with various sector players,he has called on the students to remain focused through out their study period and not to stop trying,and always to keep learning and unlearning to archive their dreams.on his part the Vc prof Njenga Munene has congratulated graduands and and made a clarion call to them to go and be the best role models and value to the society,this comes amid the university been acredited as a centre of distance learning a move that will see the university reach out to a large student base through online programs. Present during the graduation ceremony was the the Vc prof Njenga Munene,deputy VC Alice Njuguna,chair of the zetech council and president advisor Hassan Mohamed, Ambassador of Belgium peter malde who addressed the congregation virtually among others.

The university currently offers 21 degree programs and one masters program.The university is one of the fasted growing university in Kenya.
Ends ..

by Maximilla Wafula

Nicole Katone , Best Outstanding and performing overal student of the graduating class of 2022 at Zetech University , today honoured and recognise the combined hard work , effort and resilience , in the spirit of Zetec University’s core value of team work . Three years she walked into this prestigious University with her suitcase, dreams , aspirations and uncertainties of what would become of her . But today she leaves with not only her degree but also as the highest performing student of the graduating class of 2022 at the Zetech University.

The university has cultivated in us a culture of well – being and Sustainability. We don’t take for granted that we have had the privilege of Inventing out our future in a learning environment that is conducive and cognisant of our physical, social , spiritual, emotional , intellectual , environmental, financial ,cultural and occupational well – being while upholding the sustainability of its community.

From countless mental health forums to medical camps , camps hangouts , environmental day’s, field trips , all these made it possible for us to achieve our full potential and helped us build connections with industry experts .

Our faculty have been nothing short of dedicated , committed , selfless and supportive . We are still in awe of how they interacted with us freely and guidance in the diverse areas of our studies . We take pride in pursuing our higher education at a University that is not shy to invest in state – of -the -art facilities that have helped us acquire hand – on skills . The well equipped library that is available on and off campus , spacious and innovation Hub all helped us to unlock and achieve our full potential.

Thanked the parents for believing and supporting our pursuit of higher education. We remained indebted to all that you have done and continue to do for us , to my fellow graduates as we post photos of our certificate on social media platforms and update our LinkedIn profiles to ‘ open to work ‘ I urge you to remain connected to our Alma Mater by joining the Zetech University Alumni Association which we automatically become when we graduate today .

As we go out separate ways to kickstart our careers and move towards new chapters of our lives , let us hold close to the fond memories of our Zetech Experience, which has made us wiser , braver and more knowledgeable.
Ends….

By Maximilla Wafula

The civil society wishes to express its position with regards to the emerging political situation and the state of the nation. We are concerned about the high cost of living which has placed food and basic necessities out of reach for many Kenyans.
Secondly, many Kenyans are grappling with an intensifying drought that has led to deaths, yet the government has not provided meaningful relief to communities suffering from severe drought in parts of the country. Drought has remained a perennial problem and is a governance issue.
Further, we are equally concerned about the wave of careless utterances and calculated political
events happening across the country. We note that nothing happens in isolation and reiterate that these are part of a grand scheme to test the democratic resolve of the Kenyan people – the most significant being a proposal to remove the term limit for the presidency.
We wish to call out the recent outburst by Fafi MP Salah Yakub calling for Constitutional
amendments to remove the Presidential term limit and replace it with age limit which creates the tenure for dictatorial regimes as seen in the sub-region.
We are aware that these schemes are a primer for future attempts to mutilate the Constitution. This
comes amidst the background of the continued non-compliance and disregard of the constitution
by the Kenya Kwanza regime barely 3 months in office. We therefore call on all patriotic Kenyans to stand in defense of the constitution, and not cede an inch of our sovereignty as a people.
We wish to remind Kenyans of our dark history, especially under the KANU regime, where an imperial presidency emasculated both parliament and the judiciary – effectively creating a corrupt
dictatorship that made Kenya stagnant for decades.
We are also appalled by the systematic acts of impunity and blatant disregard for the rule of law that has seen heinous violations targeted at innocent Kenyans.
A few days ago, Kenyans watched in horror as a family was evicted from a house they have owned for the last 46 years in Nairobi’s Westlands area under unexplainable circumstances. That the
police allowed this act of thuggery to happen despite there being a court order and a notice from the Nairobi County Government stopping the demolition/eviction should be very worrying for Kenyans. Such unabetted criminal acts must never be allowed to happen in this country, for they are a reversal of the gains we have made over the years. We demand justice for the family of Avani Shah, whilst also demanding that those responsible be brought to book. We urge all Kenyans to remain vigilant, for such acts are likely to become commonplace over these coming years.

We are equally concerned by recent remarks by the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Ezekiel Machogu who is on record stating that universities should generate their own revenue as the Government of Kenya
would no longer fund them. Education is a right and must be made accessible to all Kenyans. This
attempt to consign rights from public governance to private interest is ill-advised as it will result in increases in tuition fees – making university and college education out of reach for millions poor Kenyans.

We therefore urge the ministry of education to come up with realistic and workable solutions to the financial crisis facing our institutions of higher learning, many of which are unable
to pay staff or remit staff pensions and other statutory deductions.
Lastly, we wish to express concern about the pilots’ strike and the inability of the Kenya Airways management to meaningfully resolve the impasse. Apart from crippling the national carrier, the strike has also resulted in untold anguish many travelers and disruption of supply chains, especially
for the agricultural sector where many Kenyans have been earning a living.

The Kenya Airways
management must move fast to address the pilots’ grievances in a manner that is respectful of labor
laws. The right to organize and participate in industrial action is guaranteed in the constitution
under Article 41 and should not be curtailed in any way.
Kenyans are facing many more problems and challenges in the counties, towns, neighborhoods
and villages that they live in. From extrajudicial killings to a spate of day light muggings that
foment fear for hard-working people in the affected areas, insecurity has intensified in parts of the
country resulting in the deaths of innocent Kenyans. We urge the security apparatus to step up vigilance in stemming these needless killings.

We take this opportunity to once again condemn in the strongest terms the current wave of careless political rhetoric and breakdown of governance processes that seek to reverse the gains of the
Constitution and take us back to the dark days of the KANU regime.
Kenyans must remember that this is our country, and that we must remain vigilant for we have a
collective responsibility to create a better society for ourselves and for future generation.
Ends ….

by Maximilla Wafula

Centre Manager NTTI Eng. Festus
Musyoki
Representing Director General National Industrial Training Authority, Eng. Stephen Ogenga during the inauguration ceremony of the Dakaini Centre of excellence at Don Bosco Karen Campus, honoured and appreciated the Principal of Don Bosco for the invite to grace the inauguration as they come together to mark this very important step that will mark a defining moment in the lives of your refrigeration and air’ conditioning trainees .
He also extended his sincere gratitude to the board and management
of Daikin Company and indeed the people of Japan for the commendable job that they are undertaking in assisting Kenya move forward in bridging the skills development gap.

On behalf of the NITA fraternity iam encouraged and inspired by your motivation to help us redefine the current skills development landscape in our country with newer training technology
Intergrating youths into the the labour market is a major challenge for developing nations , particular in Africa.
With 75 million of young people in the developing world who are unemployed and hundreds of millions who are underemployed, youth employment is one of the most pressing development challenges . Daikin centre of excellence could not have come at a better time .

Strategic planning and provision of quality education are the best forms of intervention for skills development in Africa . The fact that individuals have talent is not sufficient, hence the importance of developing talent through education and training. This , learning requires well- designed quality and education training programs that can lead to people being open to new ideas and a disposition to question what people already know.

This is even more critical especially in the fast changing technology controlled workplace . Daikin centre of excellence is going to be a game changer in that direction.
We encourage such partnership and collaboration that are intended to enhance skills development of people and systems in the country .
In the past NITA and Don Bosco have collaborated in various aspects geared at furthering industrial training in Kenya looking forward to continue this Partnership.

The development of training Programs are aimed at addressing the insufficient supply of relevant skills development ( Technical , cognitive and Non- cognitive ), which is one of the main barriers preventing , young people from finding in udeveloping countries .
Skills constraints mean that CONSTRAINTS individuals lack the appropriate Technical MEAN THAT , Cognitive , and / or Non Cognitive skills to respond to employers demands . With the latest technology in the market now being availed for training at Daikin centre of excellence, the future can only be brighter for trainees here.

If Kenya is going to have a competitive advantage on a Global Scale we must be ready to adopt policies and strategies, such as the ones you as the Management of Don Bosco has put in place to address the challenge of youth unemployment, with the inauguration of the Daikin centre of excellence . As a Country we will need to fully rely on our ability to maximize on our human capital in the provision of quality research and innovation , which will in turn make Kenya a bench mark for economic development.

As Nita , we are keen on collaboration as we seek to ensure that the skills development in the country meets the needs of industry is expected to deliver an adequate and skilled labour force capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly , as envisioned in the Kenya video in n 2030 .
Ends…